It totally changed the way I practiced medicine.
As I hand over the leadership of Cochrane Malaysia to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tan May Loong, I do so without feeling relief, sadness, or regret. Instead, it’s with a heart full of gratitude for the support I have received over the decades.
When I first embarked on authoring a Cochrane review in 1998 as a young neonatologist, I never dreamed I would one day be writing this piece. At the time, neonatology was just coming out as a sub-specialty in its own right, and I was interested in building a neonatal service in our hospital. Authoring a Cochrane review gave me a new perspective: we must move beyond simply doing what our teachers taught us but incorporate the best available research evidence into our clinical decision making.
It not only changed my practice but also changed my career path. I decided to devote my time to bringing this concept to other healthcare professionals by helping them author their own reviews and that’s really how Cochrane Malaysia came to be. Today, we have well over 300 Cochrane authors in Malaysia and have published more than 150 reviews. This growth is a testament to Malaysia’s commitment to evidence-based healthcare.
I owe a debt of gratitude to the late David Henderson-Smart, who brought me into Cochrane during my neonatal training; to RUMC for their unwavering institutional support; and to the Malaysian Ministry of Health. Cochrane Australia has also provided continual support. Finally, I thank the many individuals across Malaysia who recognized the value of Cochrane and contributed their expertise, not just in authoring but in translating and in helping get Cochrane evidence into clinical practice across the country.
I wish Dr. Tan every success in leading Cochrane Malaysia through its next phase. With the incredible teams at RUMC, the National Institutes of Health, University of Malaya, Manipal University College Melaka, and University Sains Malaysia, I have no doubt that the future of Cochrane Malaysia is in excellent hands.
Prof Jacqueline Ho
Acting Deputy Director, Cochrane Malaysia
